Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
#51
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
http://arstechnica.com/security/2014...rity-reporter/
#52
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
#53
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
This one got a 25 year sentence for swatting.
15 Year Old Who “SWATTED” Gamer Convicted Of Domestic Terrorism; 25 Years To Life In Federal Prison
DeQuincy, LA — What many teenagers these days are considering a harmless prank, has landed one online gamer in more trouble than he could have ever imagined. In a Louisiana courtroom today, 15-year-old Paul Horner broke down in tears after a judge found the young man guilty on two counts of domestic terrorism and was sentenced to twenty-five years to life in federal prison.
Horner is the first person in history to be charged with what is known as ‘swatting‘, a growing trend in which a person anonymously files a false police report, such as a murder or bomb threat, in hopes of provoking the police to raid an individual’s home or business. Prosecutors in the case proved that Horner called in multiple false threats against rival online gamers, resulting in SWAT team raids of their residence.
“Swatting” is a new fad among gamers targeting those who “livestream“, broadcasting themselves and their game play live over the Internet to fans and in-game rivals alike. If a gamer is able to ascertain the personal information of a rival, by locating their IP and residential address, they will call in a dangerous threat to law enforcement and watch as the “livestreamer’s” house is forcibly entered by police.
The practice of “SWATTING” was recently brought to national attention by the YouTube video: The Creatures (Kootra) got SWAT Raided (SWATTED) #FreeKootra2014. Law Enforcement agencies say that the practice, which has been occurring with increasing frequency since 2013, wastes valuable resources and places innocent people in harm’s way. The 2014 incident, which resulted in the charges against Horner, are a prime example of this.
Defense lawyers told the courtroom that Horner, who goes by the gamertag BadAssDwg69, was upset after being repeatedly beaten by a fellow gamer at Battlefield 4. After obtaining the rival gamers information, prosecutors say Horner called police and reported a murder/hostage situation at the home. SWAT team then raided the house, shooting and critically injuring the “Livestreamer’s” father in the process. Following an investigation of the incident, Horner was charged as an adult, using provisions of the 2001 Patriot Act. Horner’s guilty charge stems from two counts of domestic terrorism, related to his manipulation of an enforcement response, and injuries to innocents resulting from those actions.
Prosecutors played audio of Horner’s 911 phone call to the jury:
“I just shot and killed four people. If any police enter my home I will kill them too,” the statement read in part.
During closing arguments, prosecuting attorney Tom Downey explained the state’s assessment of Horner to the jury.
“There were no victims or any evidence that a shooting had taken place,” Downey said. “Horner’s actions are pure evil, he is a menace to society and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Horner, described as affecting a brash, “hardcore” persona while online was anything but throughout the trial. At multiple times Horner broke down into fits of sobbing hysteria and calls to his mother, to the point that the presiding Judge, Arthur Digsby, was forced to have him removed. Hearing the sentence of 25 years to life, Horner began sobbing. Judge Digsby told Horner that though he felt bad for the youth, he was ultimately responsible for his own actions.
“Ignorance of consequence because of lack of thought absolves no one”, the Judge told Horner. “Thinking that your actions were only a prank did not make them only a prank.”
Raids by SWAT teams are known as the most dangerous work law enforcement can do. On December 19th of last year, near Somerville, Texas, a SWAT team deputy was shot and killed during an attempt to serve a no-knock warrant. Just before 6:00 A.M., SWAT team members entered the home of Henry Goedrich Magee. They were there to serve a warrant which would permit the team to search the mobile home in which Magee and his pregnant girlfriend were living. Reacting to the pre-dawn, forced entry, Magee grabbed a rifle propped against a bedroom door frame and fired at the unidentified intruders, killing 31 year old sheriff’s deputy Adam Sowders.
Judge Digsby finished his sentencing as he went on to admonish anyone who would try to emulate such idiocy.
“Leave your petty pride in the realm of digital fantasy where it is still safe,” Digsby said. “Because, as young mister Horner has learned, actions in the real world don’t have a reset button. And every parent should make sure their children understand that.”
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uskHqJEL_Lw?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
DeQuincy, LA — What many teenagers these days are considering a harmless prank, has landed one online gamer in more trouble than he could have ever imagined. In a Louisiana courtroom today, 15-year-old Paul Horner broke down in tears after a judge found the young man guilty on two counts of domestic terrorism and was sentenced to twenty-five years to life in federal prison.
Horner is the first person in history to be charged with what is known as ‘swatting‘, a growing trend in which a person anonymously files a false police report, such as a murder or bomb threat, in hopes of provoking the police to raid an individual’s home or business. Prosecutors in the case proved that Horner called in multiple false threats against rival online gamers, resulting in SWAT team raids of their residence.
“Swatting” is a new fad among gamers targeting those who “livestream“, broadcasting themselves and their game play live over the Internet to fans and in-game rivals alike. If a gamer is able to ascertain the personal information of a rival, by locating their IP and residential address, they will call in a dangerous threat to law enforcement and watch as the “livestreamer’s” house is forcibly entered by police.
The practice of “SWATTING” was recently brought to national attention by the YouTube video: The Creatures (Kootra) got SWAT Raided (SWATTED) #FreeKootra2014. Law Enforcement agencies say that the practice, which has been occurring with increasing frequency since 2013, wastes valuable resources and places innocent people in harm’s way. The 2014 incident, which resulted in the charges against Horner, are a prime example of this.
Defense lawyers told the courtroom that Horner, who goes by the gamertag BadAssDwg69, was upset after being repeatedly beaten by a fellow gamer at Battlefield 4. After obtaining the rival gamers information, prosecutors say Horner called police and reported a murder/hostage situation at the home. SWAT team then raided the house, shooting and critically injuring the “Livestreamer’s” father in the process. Following an investigation of the incident, Horner was charged as an adult, using provisions of the 2001 Patriot Act. Horner’s guilty charge stems from two counts of domestic terrorism, related to his manipulation of an enforcement response, and injuries to innocents resulting from those actions.
Prosecutors played audio of Horner’s 911 phone call to the jury:
“I just shot and killed four people. If any police enter my home I will kill them too,” the statement read in part.
During closing arguments, prosecuting attorney Tom Downey explained the state’s assessment of Horner to the jury.
“There were no victims or any evidence that a shooting had taken place,” Downey said. “Horner’s actions are pure evil, he is a menace to society and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Horner, described as affecting a brash, “hardcore” persona while online was anything but throughout the trial. At multiple times Horner broke down into fits of sobbing hysteria and calls to his mother, to the point that the presiding Judge, Arthur Digsby, was forced to have him removed. Hearing the sentence of 25 years to life, Horner began sobbing. Judge Digsby told Horner that though he felt bad for the youth, he was ultimately responsible for his own actions.
“Ignorance of consequence because of lack of thought absolves no one”, the Judge told Horner. “Thinking that your actions were only a prank did not make them only a prank.”
Raids by SWAT teams are known as the most dangerous work law enforcement can do. On December 19th of last year, near Somerville, Texas, a SWAT team deputy was shot and killed during an attempt to serve a no-knock warrant. Just before 6:00 A.M., SWAT team members entered the home of Henry Goedrich Magee. They were there to serve a warrant which would permit the team to search the mobile home in which Magee and his pregnant girlfriend were living. Reacting to the pre-dawn, forced entry, Magee grabbed a rifle propped against a bedroom door frame and fired at the unidentified intruders, killing 31 year old sheriff’s deputy Adam Sowders.
Judge Digsby finished his sentencing as he went on to admonish anyone who would try to emulate such idiocy.
“Leave your petty pride in the realm of digital fantasy where it is still safe,” Digsby said. “Because, as young mister Horner has learned, actions in the real world don’t have a reset button. And every parent should make sure their children understand that.”
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uskHqJEL_Lw?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
#54
DVD Talk Hero
#55
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
wtf... stop posting crap then!
#56
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
#57
DVD Talk Hero
#58
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
We had a case of this here in middle Tennessee this week. Swat Team showed up fully loaded and even wih the "Robot". Someone called in saying one person shot and holding a nine year old hostage. The Police refused to do any News Story beause they didn't want to give credit to the caller and TV Exposure. The sad part is here it falls under a Class E Felony...just one year in jail and under a $1000 fine. A few news people asked is it being pursued and didn't get a comment.
The son it was found out does play online a lot with COD...
The son it was found out does play online a lot with COD...
#59
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
http://kotaku.com/canadian-kid-arres...ing-1670159619
Hope more of these dumbshits get punished.
A 17 year-old Canadian (pictured above with his face censored), who cannot be identified because he's a minor, is in custody after a joint operation between police in Florida and British Columbia. The boy is alleged to have made two threats against Fort Meade High School earlier this year, one saying he would "shoot everyone" at the school and the other that he would "blow everyone up."
#60
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
Jump to the 8 min mark for the swatting part
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xCJmiQSmye0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Dude sounds like the nicest guy
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xCJmiQSmye0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Dude sounds like the nicest guy
#61
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2...-in-las-vegas/
Alleged swatting prankster “Famed God” arrested in Las Vegas
Teen's computers point to swatting incidents nationwide, authorities said.
by David Kravets - Feb 7 2015, 10:06am MST
203
A 19-year-old Las Vegas teen is expected to appear in court Monday, days after being arrested in connection to a July swatting incident in suburban Illinois.
Brandon Wilson
Will County state's attorney's office
Brandon Wilson, who goes by the online handle "Famed God," was arrested Thursday in Nevada and faces an extradition hearing to determine whether he should be sent to face hacking and other charges. Illinois prosecutors said there was evidence on his computers about the July 10 swatting incident, in which he allegedly reported a murder to Naperville's emergency 911 line. The SWAT team responded, but the call was a hoax.
The Chicago-Sun Times said that, in addition to the Naperville incident, the suspect's computers held evidence "of similar incidents across the country."
The teen's arrest coincidently came the same day as a popular online gamer, Joshua Peters, aka Koopatroopa787, was swatted while thousands were watching him live stream on Twitch.
Swatting has seemingly become a national phenomenon in the online gaming world, with pranksters calling police and claiming that heinous crimes are underway at a certain location. That usually prompts armed SWAT teams to arrive at the scene. Often, the prank call appears to be coming from the innocent target's address.
"Famed God," meanwhile, is also said to have hacked the gaming consoles owned by two others and threatened to put somebody "in debt for life" by accessing banking information. Illinois prosecutors said charges Wilson faces include computer tampering, intimidation, and identity theft. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
Teen's computers point to swatting incidents nationwide, authorities said.
by David Kravets - Feb 7 2015, 10:06am MST
203
A 19-year-old Las Vegas teen is expected to appear in court Monday, days after being arrested in connection to a July swatting incident in suburban Illinois.
Brandon Wilson
Will County state's attorney's office
Brandon Wilson, who goes by the online handle "Famed God," was arrested Thursday in Nevada and faces an extradition hearing to determine whether he should be sent to face hacking and other charges. Illinois prosecutors said there was evidence on his computers about the July 10 swatting incident, in which he allegedly reported a murder to Naperville's emergency 911 line. The SWAT team responded, but the call was a hoax.
The Chicago-Sun Times said that, in addition to the Naperville incident, the suspect's computers held evidence "of similar incidents across the country."
The teen's arrest coincidently came the same day as a popular online gamer, Joshua Peters, aka Koopatroopa787, was swatted while thousands were watching him live stream on Twitch.
Swatting has seemingly become a national phenomenon in the online gaming world, with pranksters calling police and claiming that heinous crimes are underway at a certain location. That usually prompts armed SWAT teams to arrive at the scene. Often, the prank call appears to be coming from the innocent target's address.
"Famed God," meanwhile, is also said to have hacked the gaming consoles owned by two others and threatened to put somebody "in debt for life" by accessing banking information. Illinois prosecutors said charges Wilson faces include computer tampering, intimidation, and identity theft. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
#62
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
Arrested Swatter Faces Maximum Five Year Prison Sentence
Brandon Wilson raided in Las Vegas; Seized computers suggest multiple Swatting incidents, prosecutor claims
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/arr.../1100-6425220/
I swear he's Jack Black's younger brother....
Brandon Wilson raided in Las Vegas; Seized computers suggest multiple Swatting incidents, prosecutor claims
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/arr.../1100-6425220/
I swear he's Jack Black's younger brother....
#63
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
27:40 swatting story starts
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RwRk7cyw9sg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
#66
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
^^ at one minute in, this douche says "there's always one dickbag on twitch" and "he's wasting time when he could be doing something more prevalent"... I couldn't agree more my man, I couldn't agree more.
#67
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Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
BUMP.
This could have ended much worse if the SWAT team wasn't using rubber bullets. Fuck.
British man charged after US gamer is shot by Swat police following hoax terrorism call
This could have ended much worse if the SWAT team wasn't using rubber bullets. Fuck.
British man charged after US gamer is shot by Swat police following hoax terrorism call
Robert McDaid, 21, is alleged to have called a terrorism hotline in the US state of Maryland posing as a man called Tyran Dobbs.
Claiming to be armed with a gun and several bags of explosives, he said that he would kill three hostages unless $15,000 (£12,000) was delivered in a red bag to his address.
Taking the threat seriously, armed police then raided Mr Dobbs’ home and shot the 20-year-old between the eyes and in the chest with rubber bullets, breaking bones in his face and bruising his lungs.
The US Department of Justice said Mr McDaid was reportedly acting at the request of an American gamer called Zachary Lee, who contacted the Briton via an internet telephone service in February 2015 and asked for his help in “swatting” Mr Dobbs.
Mr McDaid is said to have responded: “I’ll do it when I’m up”.
Claiming to be armed with a gun and several bags of explosives, he said that he would kill three hostages unless $15,000 (£12,000) was delivered in a red bag to his address.
Taking the threat seriously, armed police then raided Mr Dobbs’ home and shot the 20-year-old between the eyes and in the chest with rubber bullets, breaking bones in his face and bruising his lungs.
The US Department of Justice said Mr McDaid was reportedly acting at the request of an American gamer called Zachary Lee, who contacted the Briton via an internet telephone service in February 2015 and asked for his help in “swatting” Mr Dobbs.
Mr McDaid is said to have responded: “I’ll do it when I’m up”.
#68
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
These swatters should be charged with attempted murder because that's basically what they're doing is putting them in a position to get killed by cops.
#69
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
I'd say a fraction of the blame (let's say 20%) goes to the cops/SWAT as well, for charging in, guns blazing, with little to no corroboration/investigation.
#70
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#71
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
100% of the blame goes to the police the second they DECIDE to go in with no investigation.
#72
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
Bullshit. If someone calls and says there is a person who is a threat to others they'll go in without an investigation.
#74
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: Swatting : The New Gaming "Prank"
No surprise someone has been killed over Swatting
Dispute over a $1.50 Call of Duty wager leads to death of 28 year old man in Kansas
By Keshav - December 29, 201789
UPDATE: Los Angeles Police Department have arrested 25 year old Tyler Raj Barriss for making the ‘swatting’ call which resulted in the death of Andrew Finch.
Tyler Barriss was known online has SWAuTistic. He was in an interview with KEEMSTAR’s Drama Alert last night.
Police in Los Angeles says that Barriss was arrested previously in September 2015 for a making a bomb threat call to a ABC Studio in Glendale, CA.
It is not clear yet what he is being charged with at this time.
Original Story:
A dispute between two teammates, over the loss of a $1.50 Call of Duty wager, has led to the death of a 28 year old man in Wichita, Kansas. Police has ID’d the 28 year individual as Andrew Finch. He leaves behind two children. His mother spoke with local news outlet, in a video posted by the site here. She says she never heard of a swatting before. His mother also said Andrew Finch did not play video games.
Two individuals got into a heated argument over a UMG Wager online after a loss in the match. During the heated dispute, one of the individuals involved provided the other with a fake address for where he resided. The other individual decided to send the location to a known swatter. This known swatter is reportedly the same individual that called in a fake bomb threat at CWL Dallas event earlier in December. The swatter called in a fake scenario to the local police. Swatting has been a problem within the Call of Duty community. There have been numerous incidents where a fake situation is called into police, either via calling 911 or via other ways to report an emergency.
UMG, the site that hosted the wager which caused the dispute, says they will work to provide any information they can to local authorities.
Police arrived at the address and shot and killed the 28 year old male who was not involved in the dispute at all. The officer who fired the shot, a 7 year veteran of the local police department, has been placed on paid administrative leave as the department investigates what really happened during this incident.
“It was a shooting call involving hostages,” Police Chief Troy Livingston said. “The original call, we were told someone had an argument with their mother and dad was accidentally shot. And now that person was holding mother, brother and sister hostage. We learned through that call that a father was deceased, and had been shot in the head. That was the information we were working off of.”
Police said they are investigating if the incident was a prank “swatting” incident, but at the time they responded to the call, the officers were working off the information they had as they approached the house. It is not clear why the officer fired as soon as the individual opened the door.
”We were given some misinformation on the (original) call,” he said. “We got a call that someone was deceased in the residence and that proved not to be true. Also, we’re still trying to determine who was the hostages and how that unfolded as well.”
Reports claim the two Call of Duty players involved were Miruhcle and Baperizer; these two players have since deleted their Twitter accounts. The known swatter also changed his Twitter profile to a new username.
Pro player Parasite shared some additional information that was found on Twitter about the incident:
Another Pro Player, FaZe Clan’s ZooMaa, has shared information showing the swatter, who has now changed his Twitter username, threatening him in the past and has even threatened to call in fake bomb threats to CWL New Orleans, the next CWL event, taking place January 12-14. ZooMaa said he has already contacted the police about the individual for his own safety.
https://charlieintel.com/2017/12/29/...ld-man-kansas/
Dirtbag admitted to doing it in an interview
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cCHOI39nJPM?start=290" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Dispute over a $1.50 Call of Duty wager leads to death of 28 year old man in Kansas
By Keshav - December 29, 201789
UPDATE: Los Angeles Police Department have arrested 25 year old Tyler Raj Barriss for making the ‘swatting’ call which resulted in the death of Andrew Finch.
Tyler Barriss was known online has SWAuTistic. He was in an interview with KEEMSTAR’s Drama Alert last night.
Police in Los Angeles says that Barriss was arrested previously in September 2015 for a making a bomb threat call to a ABC Studio in Glendale, CA.
It is not clear yet what he is being charged with at this time.
Original Story:
A dispute between two teammates, over the loss of a $1.50 Call of Duty wager, has led to the death of a 28 year old man in Wichita, Kansas. Police has ID’d the 28 year individual as Andrew Finch. He leaves behind two children. His mother spoke with local news outlet, in a video posted by the site here. She says she never heard of a swatting before. His mother also said Andrew Finch did not play video games.
Two individuals got into a heated argument over a UMG Wager online after a loss in the match. During the heated dispute, one of the individuals involved provided the other with a fake address for where he resided. The other individual decided to send the location to a known swatter. This known swatter is reportedly the same individual that called in a fake bomb threat at CWL Dallas event earlier in December. The swatter called in a fake scenario to the local police. Swatting has been a problem within the Call of Duty community. There have been numerous incidents where a fake situation is called into police, either via calling 911 or via other ways to report an emergency.
UMG, the site that hosted the wager which caused the dispute, says they will work to provide any information they can to local authorities.
Police arrived at the address and shot and killed the 28 year old male who was not involved in the dispute at all. The officer who fired the shot, a 7 year veteran of the local police department, has been placed on paid administrative leave as the department investigates what really happened during this incident.
“It was a shooting call involving hostages,” Police Chief Troy Livingston said. “The original call, we were told someone had an argument with their mother and dad was accidentally shot. And now that person was holding mother, brother and sister hostage. We learned through that call that a father was deceased, and had been shot in the head. That was the information we were working off of.”
Police said they are investigating if the incident was a prank “swatting” incident, but at the time they responded to the call, the officers were working off the information they had as they approached the house. It is not clear why the officer fired as soon as the individual opened the door.
”We were given some misinformation on the (original) call,” he said. “We got a call that someone was deceased in the residence and that proved not to be true. Also, we’re still trying to determine who was the hostages and how that unfolded as well.”
Reports claim the two Call of Duty players involved were Miruhcle and Baperizer; these two players have since deleted their Twitter accounts. The known swatter also changed his Twitter profile to a new username.
Pro player Parasite shared some additional information that was found on Twitter about the incident:
Another Pro Player, FaZe Clan’s ZooMaa, has shared information showing the swatter, who has now changed his Twitter username, threatening him in the past and has even threatened to call in fake bomb threats to CWL New Orleans, the next CWL event, taking place January 12-14. ZooMaa said he has already contacted the police about the individual for his own safety.
https://charlieintel.com/2017/12/29/...ld-man-kansas/
Dirtbag admitted to doing it in an interview
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cCHOI39nJPM?start=290" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
#75
DVD Talk Hall of Fame